Weihenstephaner | Hefe Weissbier

A rare Friday off work this week means I get to crack open a beer while the sun is still up! And with the sun out shining, the perfect choice sitting in my fridge is Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier. A Bavarian style wheat beer from the "oldest brewery in the world," brewed since 1040. At least they claim all that, who knows if it really is the oldest brewery, but it's definitely older than any brewery in the USA.

Poured into a Sam Adams pint glass, Weihenstephaner has a cloudy dark golden color with a very large frothy white head. As with most wheat beers, this is a very attractive beer. Not too much lacing, but the high carbonation keeps the big foamy head around for most of the…. how-you-say… beer drinking experience.

The aroma, like most traditional wheat beers, is dominated by banana, clove, bubblegum, and light toasted grain. The banana aroma is the strongest out of the bunch.

The taste starts off very mild with a nice blend of banana and bubblegum sweetness mixing with light malt. A light hint of spice kicks in while the toasted cracker-like malt flavor intensifies through the finish. Earthy yeast, biting carbonation and a barely noticeable grassy hop bitterness finish just a little on the dry side.

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier is a wheat beer that sets the bar extremely high for the style, and makes it a very difficult style to improve upon. With centuries, if not millennia, of brewing tradition in Bavaria, it's no surprise that the wheat beers from that area are all world class, including the likes of Hacker Pschorr, Schneider, Ayinger. Some of which are harder to find than others. Of course there are American breweries that make a great Hefeweizen, but the Germans still make the best. It's a style we haven't quite mastered like we've done to the IPA style.

With all that being said, it's summer, drink a Hefeweizen!

Personal: 9/10
Style: 9.5/10

Tröegs | Dreamweaver Wheat Ale

Ah…. warmer times are coming, and with the warmth comes the need to drink lighter, more refreshing suds. The two 80 degree days we had last week motivated my decision to go for one of my absolute favorite styles of beer when the temps rise, Hefeweizen. Hefeweizen's or Weissbiers originated in Germany, particularly Southern Germany in Bavaria. If you break the word down "hefe" translates to "yeast", "weizen" to "wheat", and "weiss" to "white". The unfiltered wheat malt causes the pale cloudy appearance that is common in these beers, which its name is also derived from.

While I do love a good traditional German Hefeweizen, I decided to go for an American version this time, with Tröegs Dreamweaver Wheat.

Poured into a Weizen glass, Dreamweaver has a semi-cloudy golden straw color with two inches of fluffy white head. Pronounced carbonation makes this beer look very light in body, while retaining a creamier looking head.

The aroma is smack in the middle between light spicy clove/coriander and sweet banana. Mild hints of medicinal funk from the yeast are just noticeable in the nose, but really don't get in the way of the spice and banana tug-of-war.

The taste starts with a nice bite of carbonation that injects flavors of banana and bubble gum sweetness right off the bat. Clove spice and other yeast esters fill in through the middle, while the finish is rounded off by a lightly toasted malt. Crisp and refreshing all the way through.

A Hefeweizen really hits the spot for summertime day drinking, and Tröegs Dreamweaver is no exception to that. The Pennsylvania locals have done a great job in keeping with Bavarian tradition. While Dreamweaver is not my all time favorite wheat beer, it's a definite must try, and is without a doubt a better choice than the typical watery light beers you'll be offered at a summer barbecue.

Personal: 7/10
Style: 8/10